AT&T's 3G network beat out Verizon and Sprint's competing networks in testing done by ComputerWorld.
To gauge the speed and reliability of these three wireless data networks, I used my ThinkPad X300 to collect nearly 500 data points at eight different places in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, within a 50-mile radius of midtown Manhattan's urban canyons.
I timed how long it took to establish a connection with each network, followed by speed tests. Using Alken's bandwidth meter, I was able to gauge download and upload speeds as well as how long it took to load that vendor's home page. Finally, I ran an Internet radio station and timed how long it took to drain the battery. I then compared it to running the battery down using the notebook's Wi-Fi radio.
All speed readings -- connection time, the Alken speed tests and page loading times -- were repeated five times and averaged.
The result placed AT&T as the leader with consistently faster download and upload speeds and shorter connection and page load times. The author notes that individual results may vary based on location.
As readers are probably aware, Apple is widely expected to announce a 3G iPhone by June's Worldwide Developers Conference.
